Must Listening These Days: Billy Bragg’s “Between The Wars”

In recent weeks, I’ve found myself particularly drawn to articles, discussions, and songs, pertaining to class struggle and the labour movement…Yes, more than the usual.

Why’s that? Well, as we watch Donnie’s horror show unfold in the U.S., a lot of intelligent folks have been arguing, and rightfully so, that the left has not been focusing enough on issues tied to the working class. Well, Bernie did, and did so quite well, but the corporate Dems wanted no part of that.

Anyways, one of the songs that has been receiving a lot of play in my household is Billy Bragg’s “Between the Wars”. If you’re not familiar with the song, then check out the lyrics below, and you’ll understand why:

I was a miner I was a docker I was a railway man Between the wars I raised a family In times of austerity With sweat at the foundry Between the wars

I paid the union and as times got harder I looked to the government to help the working man And they brought prosperity down at the armory We’re arming for peace, me boys Between the wars

I kept the faith and I kept voting Not for the iron fist but for the helping hand For theirs is a land with a wall around it And mine is a faith in my fellow man Theirs is a land of hope and glory Mine is the green field and the factory floor Theirs are the skies all dark with bombers And mine is the peace we know Between the wars

Call up the craftsmen Bring me the draftsmen Build me a path from cradle to grave And I’ll give my consent To any government That does not deny a man a living wage